Who Else?
Local knowledge and experience at Augusta National is more important than at any other venue and with that in mind, it’s impossible to exclude Phil Mickelson from the list of contenders once again. The three-time Masters champion fits into the Bubba Watson mould in terms of imagination and with his superb short game and aggressive approach, cannot be discounted around a course he knows and loves so much.
A glance at the Official World Golf Rankings and recent form around the globe suggests a whole host of potential first-time Masters winners are assembling for a run at the title this year.
Brandt Snedeker was being hailed as the hottest golfer in the world with a third, two seconds and victory at Pebble Beach in his opening five events on Tour, but the world number four has been inactive ever since, resting after a rib injury which is hardly the kind of Masters preparation he had in mind.
Former top dog Luke Donald craves a first Major and has run into some form at the right time with a fourth place finish at the Tampa Bay Championship. Likewise Matt Kuchar, the WGC Accenture Match Play champion, is enjoying a stellar season as is Graeme McDowell, who has notched three top-10s in his opening four events.
The pick of the bunch in this category may well be the still vastly underrated Justin Rose. The Englishman, the world number five, possesses all the skills and experience to thrive at the Augusta National and like his close mate Poulter, is desperate to break his major championship duck.
And what of Sergio Garcia? Like Scott, the Spaniard is a brilliant ball striker, one who surely deserves to end his career with at least one major title under his belt. His seemingly successful adoption of the claw grip could see him thrive on Augusta's traditionally lightning-fast greens.
